Srirangam
Srirangam, also known as
Thiruvarangam, is a small island town adjoining
Tiruchirapalli in
South India. Srirangam is bounded by the
Kaveri River on one side, and the Kaveri tributary
Kollidam (Coleroon) on the other. Srirangam is home to a significant population of Vaishnavites.
Srirangam is famous for its
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a major pilgrimage destination for
Hindus (especially
Vaishnavites) and one of the largest temple complexes in India. The
gopuram of the temple is called the Rajagopuram and is 236 feet (72 m) tall. Myth has it that the coast of
Sri Lanka can be seen from the top of the gopuram. The temple is constituted by seven
prakaras (elevated enclosures) with gopurams articulating the axial path, the highest at the outermost prakara and the lowest at the innermost.
The three sacred Ranganatha temples on the banks of the Kaveri are:
#Adi Ranga - at
Srirangapatna#Madhya Ranga - at
Shivanasamudram #Renganatha -
Srirangam Srirangam is the foremost of the 108
Divya Desams (divine centers) mentioned in
Nalaira Divya Prabhandham, composed by the Tamil saints known as
Azhwars. It is also the foremost seat of the teachings of
Ramanuja, who spread the doctrine of
Visishtadvaita (qualified monism), considered to be one of the cornerstones of
Hindu philosophy. Srirangam temple is the only place to be sung by all Azhwars and visited by all Acharyas. There are 247 pasurams about
tiruvarangan in Nalaira Divya Prabandam. Some of the famous pasurams include the
Pachai Mamalai Pol Meni by Tondaradipodi Azhwar,
Kangulum Pagalum by Nammazhwar,
Amalanaathipiraan by Thirupanaazhwar and so many others. It is widely believed that Lord Ranganatha appeared as a child and sung the famous
Sree Sailesa Dayapathram thaniyan about Sri Manavala Mamunigal.
Due to the famous temple, Srirangam has a thriving economy based on tourism. Tourists come from all around India and abroad. The number of tourists to the town increases greatly during the festivals like
Vaikunda Ekadesi which falls on the
Tamil month of
Marghazi.There are many more famous temples near by Srirangam. They include Rockfort temple, Samayapuram temple, Tiruvaanikovil, Vaiyalur temple etc.
The town is located in an island with one side river Cauvery and other side by coleroonSrirangam town is also home to several hundred people who work in offices, industries located in
Trichy. The public transport linking Srirangam to trichy is very frequent.
There are numerous schools, both private and public in the town. The higher secondary school for Boys was founded in 1896 and is the oldest one in the town. However there are many school children who travel to nearby Trichy also.
Srirangam is very well linked from Trichy by public transportation. The nearest airport is situated in Trichy, however its not a very busy airport compared to Chennai.
Indian Airlines (recently renamed as Indian) connects Trichy with Chennai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Colombo. Air Lanka Service connects Tirchy with Colombo.
Srirangam also has a railway station and most of the trains passing by stops for about 5 minutes or so. Trichy railway junction one of the biggest in the state is only three miles away. Trichy junction is connected with Chennai, Thanjavur, Chidambaram, Madurai, Tirupathi, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, Quilon, Rameswaram, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi, Kanyakumari and Mangalore. There are many public buses and train connections from Chennai to Trichy which is roughly 208 miles.
City Bus service to all places of tourist interest from Central Bus Stand and from Chinthamani -Mani Guard Gate Bus Stand (Both in Trichy). Tourist Taxis, Auto Rickshaws are also available on reasonable price.
Route No. 1 of the City bus service plies between Srirangam and Junction. This route starts from Junction and goes through Central Bus Stand, Palakkarai, Main Guard Gate, Chatram Bus Stand, Mambazha salai, Thiruvanaikkovil, Srirangam Therkku vaasal (South entrance), M.Salai, East Boulevard Road, Mailam market to Junction Bus Stand. Frequency is one bus for every 5 minutes.
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Srirangam*
Sri Rangam Temple.*
Temple Official Site.*
108 Divya Desams*
Online Hindu Service in Srirangam Temple
